Have almost decided that Pfitzinger's 18/55 is a little harsh for my first time; any opinions on that?

Do what you want, just how you like. Nobody has to know.

Biking Bad

finnegan begin again

posted: 11/9/2011 at 5:58 PM

Ceri, It would be hard to imagine succeeding without putting in the miles. For me, I don't think I could have done so well without the mileage. The difference between my first marathon, last year, and my recent one was huge. The race was easy the second time. I think it was volume leading into and during training. And I'm a low mileage guy compared to many here. See if you're prepared Base-wise to go there. If not, readjust.

Be prepared to make a commitment. More miles = success if you are ready.

"... the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value..." Thomas Paine Dec 23, 1776 The Crisis

I followed the 18/55 plan fairly well last summer/fall. Something will always crop up to make you miss or trim a day here and there. FWIW, here are my weekly totals leading into starting the 18/55, as well as the weeks to the fall marathon -- as you can see, not the biggest base when I started Pfitz. I cramped in the race at about Mile 23, 3mi after I'd stopped sweating -- i.e., I think it was a dehydration issue, not a severe lack of training.

5/24/2010

31.5 mi

5/17/2010

17.3 mi

5/10/2010

26.4 mi

5/3/2010

25.2 mi

4/26/2010

38.1 mi

4/19/2010

10.0 mi

4/12/2010

30.5 mi

4/5/2010

26.5 mi

3/29/2010

18.6 mi

3/22/2010

35.5 mi

3/15/2010

31.0 mi

3/8/2010

41.5 mi

3/1/2010

18.0 mi

9/27/2010

43.7 mi

9/20/2010

33.6 mi

9/13/2010

42.8 mi

9/6/2010

50.7 mi

8/30/2010

51.1 mi

8/23/2010

42.7 mi

8/16/2010

41.4 mi

8/9/2010

45.8 mi

8/2/2010

27.4 mi

7/26/2010

47.5 mi

7/19/2010

52.7 mi

7/12/2010

40.5 mi

7/5/2010

34.0 mi

6/28/2010

46.8 mi

6/21/2010

41.8 mi

6/14/2010

40.6 mi

6/7/2010

36.7 mi

5/31/2010

32.1 mi

"I want you to pray as if everything depends on it, but I want you to prepare yourself as if everything depends on you."

Thanks all; I think the "Advanced" bit of the book title put me off a little, but I've had a better week this week and will go for it. Fallback plan if it does become too much is Higdon's Intermediate 2 plan.

Do what you want, just how you like. Nobody has to know.

atomno2

posted: 11/21/2011 at 9:06 PM

Well, I guess I should make it official. I'm in too, however it will be a stretch. I think 3:45 is more likely this year. I am fresh off a 1/2 PR 1:53:38. I took a week to recover and now I am about 12 weeks out from Myrtle Beach. It will be my first full, and to be honest, I am looking to just survive! I have had a few weeks where I have ran in the 30 MPW range, and have done my best to ensure I have decent base. I have done very little speed work up till this point. I am planing on following the Pfitzinger's 12/55. I know, it is not ideal but I must have forgot how to count when I planed out my races 6 months ago. Looking at the plan, and based on how I felt at the end of the 1/2, I think it is doable. Now don't get me wrong, I will bail at the first sign of injury. It is not worth it. I have created a google calender (https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=e8t3vqmf69ocs7nfhpph01iis4%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York) to put my training schedule on. (I also add it here on RA every two weeks or so. Google already has the rest of my life so...) I plan on finishing this one, and then will decide when and where to really go for time. I am hoping that all of you can keep me honest, and help me get out the door. The step out the door is always the hardest!!

Not that I am fast but--

Okay, here we go. Focus. Speed. I am speed. One winner, forty-two losers. I eat losers for breakfast. Breakfast? Maybe I should have had breakfast? Brekkie could be good for me. No, no, no, focus. Speed. Faster than fast, quicker than quick. I am Lightning.” — Lightning McQueen

I'm in! Ran my first marathon this October in Portland and made 3:45:18. My BQ is 3:30 and I am hooked. I switched from a typical marathon running program to the FIRST system for the last 6 weeks and believe it helped a lot. I will be using that again for this attempt in April at the Eugene, Oregon Marathon. BTW I ran barefoot for the first 22 miles and had to put on the Five Fingers for the last 4.2 due to a few blisters but overall had a blast.

I'm in! Ran my first marathon this October in Portland and made 3:45:18. My BQ is 3:30 and I am hooked. I switched from a typical marathon running program to the FIRST system for the last 6 weeks and believe it helped a lot. I will be using that again for this attempt in April at the Eugene, Oregon Marathon. BTW I ran barefoot for the first 22 miles and had to put on the Five Fingers for the last 4.2 due to a few blisters but overall had a blast.

WTG!

Run until the trail runs out.

SCHEDULE 2016--

The pain that hurts the worse is the imagined pain. One of the most difficult arts of racing is learning to ignore the imagined pain and just live with the present pain (which is always bearable.) - Jeff